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Ted Wyman, QMI Agency

Nov 22, 2011

, Last Updated: 9:52 AM ET

WINNIPEG - He arrived as a player just looking to fit into any role available, developed into Mr. Fix-it and now Kyle Wellwood has a new status — leading scorer.

Wellwood, signed as a free agent late in the summer for just $700,000, has been the Winnipeg Jets most reliable forward and, after a strong home stand, he now leads the team with 15 points through 20 games.

“It’s not something I expected but it’s nice for me to have that right now,” Wellwood said after practice at the IcePlex Monday.

“The focus is just to be consistent now and see how well I can finish the season.”

Wellwood has played centre and right wing, has taken turns on all four lines, and has been a big part of a resurgent power play.

Wellwood is tied for second on the team in goals with six, leads the team in shooting percentage at 24% and is a plus-one on a team that has given up seven more goals than it has scored.

Meanwhile, he has shown patience and poise with the puck and rarely makes glaring mistakes.

When Wellwood arrived in Winnipeg in early September, a day after signing a one-year contract, few people knew what kind of player the Jets were getting.

His history was a bit sketchy after stints in Toronto — where he failed to live up to the expectations generated by his big minor-league numbers — Vancouver and San Jose.

He was expected to add depth to the Jets lineup, but with career highs of 18 goals and 45 points in six NHL seasons, few people expected him to develop into an offensive force.

Wellwood has proven them wrong so far, but there is a long way to go this season.

“There was a time when I put up a good amount of points but I got hurt and wasn’t able to finish the season,” Wellwood said. “I’m hoping this year I can just be consistent and get a whole season where I play well.”

One person who has always had Wellwood’s back is Don Cherry. The Hockey Night in Canada commentator talked about Wellwood on Coach’s Corner earlier this season, recognizing the forward’s under-rated skill set.

“He’s always keeping tabs on me, which is nice,” Wellwood said. “He’s a good guy to have in your corner. On a yearly basis, he’s always had nice things to say and I always appreciate it.”

Wellwood’s two greatest assets this season have been skill and attitude. His willingness to do whatever’s asked of him has made life easier on Jets’ coach Claude Noel.

Noel has moved Wellwood around all season, with successful results on almost every occasion. In fact, it was fair to say that, for a time, the Jets first line was whichever one Wellwood was playing on.

“There are a lot of guys here with a lot of skill and talent and some great assets to their game and it’s just a matter of our team finding the right chemistry,” Wellwood said. “Now that we have the young guys scoring, it makes it a lot easier to win.”

While he’s been a nomad for the past few seasons — even playing 25 games in the KHL last year — Wellwood seems to have found a home in Winnipeg.

He only has a one-year deal with the Jets, but from the sounds of things, he wouldn’t mind sticking around longer.

“I would rate it No. 1, for how excited the fans are just to have their team,” Wellwood said when asked about his experience so far. “Certainly, Toronto, San Jose and Vancouver, they are passionate just like any fans, but Winnipeg kind of has a different attitude, where they are just happy and laid back and really passionate at the same time. It’s been nice.”